blue juniper help

Zurc

Hello Everyone May be someone can help me out there. My wife saved this blue juniper or what looks like one form a freind who was going to toss it. she brought it to me so I can have somthing to practice on. Well before I even touch it I want to help it requparate. so when I do work on it it will stay alive. Dose any one have any advise on what I can do. Any information will be appricated. I privided some pics so you can see what I have to work with.

thanks for your help.
Hector

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	blue 3.jpg (29.8 KB, 49 views)

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susieq

Hector,
From what I can make out in your picture, you might have a blue rug juniper. It is hard to tell for sure. Blue rug junipers and California shore junipers don't lend themselves to bonsai. If that juniper were mine, I would plant it in the yard and find a better subject to practise on. I suggest a "procumbens nana" juniper. Also known as Japanese Garden juniper and squamata pastrata (not sure of the spelling on that last name). The nana juniper is ideal for practising on and you would be able to see results for your efforts pretty quickly. They are readily available at most nurseries and big box stores like Lowe's or Home Depot. I hate to see you waste your time on a variety of juniper that is going to "fight you" in your efforts to style, to grow nice "pads" or branching.

That is just my opinion. Good luck with what ever you decide.
Best wishes.
Susieq

cbobgo

Well, I wouldn't completely discount the blue rug juniper for bonsai. Yes, it's not a traditionally used species, and you wouldn't see one at kokufu, but they can become a cascade or semi-cascade bonsai very easily. And it will give you something to practice on, as you said.

I would recomend washing out the roots and potting it in good bonsai soil in a slightly larger pot. Next year, if it is doing well, you can start on styling.

- bob

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susieq

Greetings Bob,
I agree with you about the blue rug. Once in a while you do see something nice done with them. Not often but sometimes. My late bonsai master had a reasonably nice tree from one. My main concern was that someone fairly new to the hobby might invest a lot of time in something that is not easy to work with and doesn't usually turn out well even in experienced hands.

I think as long as Hector realizes that it might not turn out and that it isn't his fault, he should have at it. If it doesn't work out, he won't take it personally. There are much easier things to learn on and they are readily available everywhere .....cheaply.

Over the years I have wasted A LOT of time working on unsuitable material and have gotten pretty picky in the process. You only have so much space for trees. It is easy to fill that space with a lot of half baked experiments that you end up throwing out......speaking from personal experience.
I wish him well what ever he does.
Sincerely,
susieq